Your Author

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Hi, thank you for stopping by my website, and welcome!

 

My name is Ange, I'm a 61 year old, slightly weather-worn old lady, trying to have adventures in my senior years.  I've been happily single since 2001.  ​Most of my working life has been spent in Motorsport, specifically F1.   I recently emigrated to Australia from the UK, in early 2021, to be with my daughter who lives here, I also have a grand daughter now too.  The transition to life in Australia hasn't been easy, mainly because of the lack of funds, but I'm slowly getting there.

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I have a wanderlust, alas neither the time nor money to travel as my imagination tells me I should, so I make do with what I can and I'm grateful for that.

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All things mechanical

Interest in all things mechanical begun at an early age, one of my earliest memories are of washing car parts down in a diesel bath at my father's repair shop.  

 

My first car, a Morris Minor, was constantly under modification and tuning, around this time I had a keen interest in rallying, moving on to building and tuning a Lotus Cortina that I raced in the 80's.  

Running a car repair workshop, it was necessary to learn management skills, book keeping etc., and I also found a great interest in computing and databases. 

 

My first break in professional motorsport was given to me by the team manager at Peugeot Competitions department, a job I loved.

 

Over the years I gained experience in many other areas of motorsport, computing and databases, all of which were supported by having the hands-on mechanical experience.  I also supplemented this practical experience with many correspondence courses.  

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Interests

My first real interest was horses.  I learnt to ride and worked at the local riding school from age 12 to 16, then continued working with horses until I got my first car. Then my interests turned to motorsport for the next thirty years.  

 

Whilst working in F1, at around 36 I was into motorbikes, having a good time, and shunts, doing trackdays on my Thundercat and R1 for a couple of years.

 

I took up martial arts around the age of 45, enjoying all disciplines such as boxing, Muay thai, BJJ, MMA but spending the most time practicing Filipino MA.

 

At the age of 52 I wanted to go to Space in Ibiza one more time, but didn't want a mental one.  So I thought what else can I do, and ended up booking a holiday at Ride Ibiza, where I had my first taste of mountain biking. The Carl Cox opening party at Space was fab, but I'd caught the MTB bug.  

 

On returning from Ibiza I spent time researching which MTB I should buy, ending up with a Specialized Stumpjumper, named Stumpy. I fell off at least five times every time I rode it. I spent most of the first year injured, having what turns out to be a partially detached supra spinatus on my LH shoulder  So most of the next two years were spent riding with one hand and/or cautiously. 

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Since 2014 my bike stable has grown a little, I have Desmond, a Specialized Demo8 Downhill bike and Bay, a Specialized Camber trail bike.

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I've got many injuries from MTB, motorbikes, karting and MA activities; both feet, RH knee, both shoulders, both pecs, RH hip, RH bicep and delt, and a dodgy neck.  My latest, a broken shoulder in June 2019.  Some would say I have brain damage too!!   

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Nowadays my gym work is limited to Yoga and some Light Weights.  My diet is plant based, but I'm not fanatical about the subject, I just prefer not to support factory farming.

 

In a nutshell, that's me.  I'm fickle, I'm mediocre, I blow with the wind!  I used to feel the need to excel at work but not any longer.  My hobbies are for pure enjoyment, I have no agenda, except to have fun, if I want to quit, I quit, if I want a rest day I have a rest day.  Probably my most success has been in my work, where I'm disliked for my fastidious tendencies, but valued for my work ethic....you can't please everyone! 

 

Currently I'm learning to play guitar and learning to ride a skateboard.  The skateboard hurts and I'm really not a natural, but will slowly persist once my shoulder is healed. The guitar, well that needs lots of time.

 

I wish I could be a rad MTB rider, alas I have no natural talent at that either, and the big balls I used to have (or stupidity) have given way to thoughts of self-preservation!

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I hope you enjoy my blogs and YouTube vlogs as much as I do!  When I'm stuck at home for months on end, I love to watch my videos or checkout my photos to reminisce.  It helps me remember the feelings I had at that time, and that hopefully I'll be doing it again!

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Any questions?  Don't hesitate to contact me or leave a comment, in fact leave a comment, good or bad!

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Cheers  Ange

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